Road Bike Tire Pressure

by
ROGUE PARRISH Last Updated: Sep 11, 2017

Rogue Parrish

An award-winning writer and editor, Rogue Parrish has worked at the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun and at newspapers from England to Alaska. This world adventurer and travel book author, who graduates summa cum laude in journalism from the University of Maryland, specializes in travel and food -- as well as sports and fitness. She's also a property manager and writes on DIY projects.

Too much air gives you a quick ride, Guy Andrews notes in “Road Bike Maintenance,” while too little gives you a comfortable, but squishy spin. That's why road bike tires bear the tire pressure specification; typically for a specific tire a range such as 95 psi to 105 psi. Trial and error will help you arrive at the best pressure for your road bike tires. Check your tire pressure before every ride to see how much more air to add.

Bump in the Road

Higher tire pressure equals lower rolling resistance because hard tires flex less and create a smaller contact patch. But bumps exist in every road, so that an over-inflated tire will transmit impact to the rider. Adjust your tire pressure depending on the situation presenting itself during your ride.

Smooth Ride

On a new smooth road, your best tire pressure might be 100 psi, but bring it down to 90 psi for a rough road. In drizzly or rainy weather, also lower the pressure by 10 psi for improved traction. For every 10-degree drop in Fahrenheit temperature, your tire pressure drops by 2 percent, such that a drop from 80 to 50 degrees translates to a drop of 100 to 94 psi. Add more pressure to compensate.

Variables

As with car tires, bike tire inflation is important to performance. Bike-tire engineers look for optimal deflection, or expected flexing, for the best grip, comfort, efficiency and comfort. The most important variable affecting the ideal amount of tire pressure is the load your tires need to carry. For riders who weigh more than 180 lbs., inflate to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire sidewall, recommends one tire manufacturer. For riders who weigh less than 110 lbs., inflate to the minimum pressure. For its 700x28C and 700x32C tires, the range is from 58 psi to 80 psi; for its 7000x25C tires, 73 psi to 102 psi; and for its 650x23C tires, 87 psi to 116 psi.

Gauge the Situation

Keep a simple pencil tire pressure gauge in your tool kit. A sliding rod pops out and indicates the tire pressure. Or you can try a fancier model with a dial readout. Buy a gauge designed for the higher pressures of road bikes rather than one for automobiles. Or use a floor pump with a built-in gauge to correctly pressurize your tires.